Engineering Student Groups Take Home 2020 Anteater Awards

June 26, 2020 – Two engineering student organizations received Anteater Awards from the UC Irvine Office of Campus Organizations & Volunteer Programs. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) were acknowledged at a virtual reception in May. This was the 40th annual installment of the Anteater Awards, a tradition that honors student groups for their achievements.

SHPE, whose mission is to recruit and graduate Latino engineers, earned the Most Outstanding Organization award ($200) for the second year in a row, as well as the Outstanding Educational Outreach Program award ($100). SHPE was recognized for continued dedication to bringing STEM awareness to underrepresented communities and local high schools and for empowering the Hispanic community through partnerships with the Office of Access and Inclusion, California Alliance of Minority Participation and Engineering Student Council.

“We feel honored to have received the Most Outstanding Student Organization award two years in a row. We want to thank our chapter advisers, corporate sponsors, campus affiliates, our members and everyone else for their support,” said Alondra Sandoval, SHPE vice president of internal affairs.

The UCI student chapter of ASCE earned the Outstanding Academic Enhancement Program award ($100) for contributing to the academic development of its members. ASCE UCI provides opportunities for members to engage with the professional civil engineering community by inviting local civil engineers to meetings where they can talk about their firms, various civil engineering industries and the path to professional licensure. This allows students to gain a first look at different firms and exposes them to industries beyond the three specializations offered at UCI.

“Whether it’s finding their first friend, creating their first resume or participating in their first Pacific Southwest Conference, our members are able to find their path in the civil engineering industry, and our leadership team prides itself on helping them,” said Janelle Gonzalez, 2019-2020 UCI ASCE chapter president.

To view the nominees and winners, visit the Office of Campus Organizations & Volunteer Programs’ Instagram and Facebook pages.

– Megan Lohre